Doctors emphasize caution amid poor air quality in Western Pa.

Western Pennsylvania’s current poor air quality, caused by smoke from Canadian wildfires, can do more than make you cough — it can exacerbate existing health conditions and irritate the lungs, according to respiratory experts.

The particles carried in the smoke can irritate lung passages and make it more difficult for people with respiratory issues to breathe, said Dr. Bill Barker, a pulmonologist for the Allegheny Health Network.

“People that have advanced lung disease can have a situation where the particles that are in the air can lead to you having a condition of bronchial constriction, in which the airways spasm down,” he said. “That can make it much tougher for them to exhale and take in the next breath.”

People who already have trouble breathing might have even more trouble on a day with poor air quality, he emphasized.

“You have a chronic inflammation of the lung, and you’re breathing in these particles that are causing an acute worsening of that, and that can make a big difference in people’s symptoms,” he said. “Somebody who could get by even with advanced lung disease normally, on a day like today, really could put themselves at risk of becoming sick fairly quickly.”

Keeping safe

Barker advised that everyone avoid doing strenuous activity outdoors or exposing themselves to outdoor air for prolonged periods of time — regardless of health conditions. People with health conditions should be even more careful, he said.

“When we have a day like today where we have an air action quality day, and it’s condition red, we’re talking about a situation in which people that have longstanding lung conditions, such as asthma or COPD, or people who are particularly vulnerable, such as the elderly or young children, really should avoid going outside if at all possible,” Barker said Wednesday.

While people with health conditions are most at risk during difficult air conditions, smoke-polluted air is not good for anyone, said Dr. Maureen Lichtveld, dean of the University of Pittsburgh School of Public Health.

“There isn’t a person I don’t worry about, but I prioritize those who are most vulnerable,” Lichtveld said. “I walked to breakfast this morning and it wasn’t comfortable, and I don’t have any respiratory conditions.”

People with heart disease and other heart problems also are impacted.

“It affects more than your lungs,” she said. “It affects people who already have lung diseases, and it affects people who are vulnerable just by their condition — the very young, very old or pregnant.”

She also expressed concern for people who are already working or living in settings that are prone to pollution, such as bus drivers and people who work outdoors.

“Public health is about communities — we worry about people who live in areas where there is already air pollution, and we worry about people who go to school or who are in homes without air conditioning, so they can’t close their windows,” she said.

The variety of different chemicals that are present in wildfire smoke raise health concerns, Lichtveld said

“What makes it dangerous is that it’s not only one type of contaminant,” she said, comparing the smoke to a mixed latte drink with coffee, cream, milk and sugar blended. “It’s a mixture of contaminants and particles that often attach pollutants to it. They travel together like the Ubers of the world.”

One way to mitigate the effects of smoke — and of heat — is to drink water, she said.

Dr. Sanjeev Jethmalani, respiratory director at Latrobe and Frick hospitals in Westmoreland County, agreed.

“Anyone with respiratory illness or chronic respiratory problems like asthma or emphysema, should avoid being outside if possible. If they can’t do that, wear a mask, make sure to hydrate yourself and try to minimize that exposure as much as you can,” he said. “The masks are not foolproof because these particles are very tiny, but it can help.”

Barker noted that people who must be outside should remain vigilant and change plans if they experience symptoms.

“Wearing a mask can be of some benefit on a day like today, but more than anything, I would say really to listen to your body,” he said. “If you’re developing some difficulty with the air quality that is out there, then you should really try to come back inside to a more air-conditioned environment. People that have a chronic lung condition who have a rescue inhaler (should) carry that inhaler around with them … and have it within close reach in case they run in to trouble.”

“You want to watch for symptoms that might indicate problems, things like coughing or increased mucus production,” Jethmalani said.